Apparatus, system, and method for reconfiguring an array to operate with less storage elements

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for reconfiguring an array of solid-state storage elements protected using parity data. The storage element error module determines that one or more storage elements are unavailable to store data (“unavailable storage elements”). The storage element resides in an array with N number of storage elements storing a first ECC chunk and P number of storage elements storing first parity data. The reconfigure data read module reads data from storage elements other than the unavailable storage elements. The data regeneration module uses the first parity data to regenerate missing data from the first ECC chunk. The data reconfiguration module creates a second ECC chunk. The new configuration storage module stores a portion of the second ECC chunk and associated second parity data on (N+P)−Z number of storage elements, wherein 1≦Z≦P.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates to data storage and more particularly relates to reconfiguring an array to operate with less storage elements.BACKGROUNDDescription of the Related Art[0002]Solid-state storage, as well as other forms of data storage media, is subject to failure or data error on specific regions within the solid-state storage. In other instances, an entire device or chip is defective and nonfunctional. Often, a plurality of memory devices or storage elements are used, such as in a distributed redundant array of independent drives (“RAID”) or other redundant data system. An array of memory devices such as a RAID system provides a level of protection against data errors and device failures, as parity data stored in the array can be used to replace failed data.[0003]In a typical RAID system, if a data device fails, the parity devices(s) are used to rebuild the data within the failed device onto a replacement data device. If a parity device fails, the da...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]In a further embodiment, the reconfiguration log module further tracks one or more unavailable storage regions where data is stored in (N+P)−Z storage elements and one or more additional unavailable storage regions where data is stored in ((N+P)−Z)−X storage elements. In storage regions other than the unavailable storage regions data is stored in N+P storage elements. In another embodiment, a storage region includes one or more of a portion of a logical page, a logical page, a plurality of logical pages, a portion of a logical erase block, a logical erase block, a plurality of logical erase blocks, a die, a plurality of dies, a chip, and a plurality of chips. In another embodiment, storage regions with more available storage elements have a higher performance than storage regions with less available storage elements. Data is stored and segregated in the array of storage elements by performance requirements of the data such that data with a higher performance requirement is given a higher priority to be stored in storage regions with a higher performance.

Problems solved by technology

Solid-state storage, as well as other forms of data storage media, is subject to failure or data error on specific regions within the solid-state storage.

In other instances, an entire device or chip is defective and nonfunctional.

If these devices are not replaced, and the number of defective devices falls below the certain number of failed devices that the RAID system accommodates, data will be lost.

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